HISD parents brace for school closures, while some experts said more may be necessary

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Some Houston Independent School District parents are bracing for school closures, while one expert believes the district may need to go even further.

This spring could be the last time 12 HISD buildings see students, as the district's board weighs whether to keep them open.

Sarah Mijangos, whose two children go to Franklin Elementary, said the send-off caught her by surprise.

"They should consider keeping it open," Mijangos said. "They help my kids a lot. My kids struggled a lot before they got to this school."

It also caught community members by surprise, who have grown up with the schools. According to HISD, Franklin Elementary has been in the neighborhood for more than 110 years.

"I went to Franklin in pre-school. It was a great school, a lot of memories," Ramon Salazar said.

Salazar, who works at La Casita restaurant next to the school, said that the spot gave him so many good memories.

"My uncle owned this restaurant, and I would come to the fence and see my uncle while playing," Salazar recalled.

Two weeks ago, Superintendent Mike Miles announced plans to close a dozen HISD schools. On Thursday, an appointed board will decide whether it happens.

A reality Baker Institute fellow Bill King says he saw coming when he studied HISD's enrollment.

"It's painful," King explained. "It's disruptive. It makes a lot of people mad, but 12 is just the start of what they're going to have to do."

King says HISD's enrollment is declining for several reasons, including declining birth rates and dropping immigration. An issue, he said, goes beyond HISD's state takeover.

"This is just a demographic reality," King said. "Aldine has an elected board. Fort Bend has an elected board. Spring has an elected board, and they're closing schools. This is not really about Mike Miles. This is really just the new reality we're living in."

King believes HISD could've gone further. If approved, about 4% of its campuses would close.

Next month, Fort Bend ISD could decide to close double that amount, by closing 8%, or seven of its campuses.

While experts say it may be necessary, it's still difficult for parents who were given little notice before their kids' schools could be closed forever.

"The schools are going to be more cramped, and parents are going to have to take a longer drive to get there," Mijangos said.

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